Voyage Of The Villainess

"Milady." Dorris' eyes slowly opened. And what she saw first was Rein's constricted face. She blinked when a drop of rain poured down to her face. She suddenly removed the drop of the water from the dark clouds to see clearly everything.

But that wasn't the pressing matter right now. A bitter yet tired smile formed her face. 

"Re-rein is that you?" Dorris' soft and weak voice resounded.

"Dorris!" Rein immediately looked at her. His eyes filled with worry that sent more sharp pain to her heart. She had a little bit of difficulty breathing that caused her to open her mouth to breathe in more air.

'I don't deserve those eyes.' she thought. 

"Dorris!" Another voice called out to her. It was from the person she always looked up to and wished to be by her side forever. The tears in her eyes abruptly drop on her face out of the blue, causing Malaya to get worried.

'Why am I so lucky to have you in my life?' she can't help but question her life 

"Are you alright?!" Gentle hands touched her soaked ones. Those gentle light aquamarine eyes that could only belong to one person, now looking at her with worry.

'I don't deserve those looks.' the self-doubt started to come up within her head.

"I'm- I'm already fine, Milady," Dorris said meekly. "Rein, thank you for your efforts. You could bring me down now."

Rein gently brought down Dorris to the ground. 

"Father." Dorris eyed Charrio and the latter just stared at her back without saying anything.

"I'll come with you." she said confidently without any second guess.

"Dorris! What are you saying? " Malaya was shocked. "He almost killed you!" Her edge of irritation had returned but she still managed to look calm outwardly.

"No, Milady." With a sudden quick turn, Dorris struck Malaya's stomach with her scythe.

"Milady!" Rein was going to go to Malaya, but he was stopped when Dorris' scythe pointed to his neck.

"I can finally vividly see everything now," Dorris said and the tone of her voice was full of clarity. "And this is the real me. This ends our time together now."

Dorris started to walk away.

"Milady!" Rein immediately went towards Malaya who was holding her stomach. 'Dorris… No, please don't do this to us .' Malaya glanced up at the retreating figure of Dorris.

"Rein, don't worry I'm alright," Malaya raised her hands to give him a clarification and she slowly stood up.

"How are you alright, when you're hurt like that!" Rein said anxiousness laced his voice.

"I'm really alright." Malaya opened both her arms. 

"See no wounds. But please lean closer to me, Rein. There is something I want to tell you." Malaya said. 

"I saw how her blade..." Rein can't continue what he's trying to say because Malaya interrupt him 

"There is no wound. Please Rein, before Dorris can get away." Malaya pleaded.

With a conflicted face, Rein leaned closer. As he did that, Malaya started whispering something to him. 

"Father," Dorris said.

"So your memories are back now, Nesha." he formed a half-smile on his face.

"Yes." Dorris simply replied. "It seems my vacation is coming to an end now. I would be serving you back again. I'm back now father."

"Very well," Charrio said. "Then there is no need for me to stall their lives."

"About that father." Dorris glanced back at them. "I have one wish, father."

"Speak, my daughter."

"Could you spare their lives for now?"

Charrio's dark energy surrounding him started to intensify. "I want to be the one to kill them when I get my full powers restored. With my teleportation magic, I'm so glad I could indeed easily find them wherever they went because of my power."

"Ah, I see," Charrio said. "Very well. Then let's all go back now. There is some pest-fighting Callan now. We need to make sure that he will be alright."

Shadows started to envelop them.

"Wait, Dorris!" Rein shouted. But Dorris didn't answer nor look at them. She was cold and the Dorris that they knew before was completely gone.

"Let me come with her." Rein looked firmly at Charrio. "At the very least, I could serve as a hostage until Dorris' full strength recovers."

Dorris, shocked by Rein's words, clenched her fist. 

"Very well," Charrio said and shadows started to envelop Rein as well. And moments later they disappeared leaving only the ground that was still being drenched by the non-stopping rain.

Malaya coughed up blood when they vanished. Blood began to flow down her back, mingling with the drenched stone road.

Before she could completely fall on the ground...

"Idiot," Iris murmured as she caught Malaya. "You are a total moron; my initial assumptions about you were incorrect."

"Just this time... I-I don''t know what else I could do." A wry smile escaped Malaya's face. "My life is in your hands now, dear friend of my teacher." 

Malaya's hand lumped. Dorris' face flashed through her mind. Though the rain was drenching her face, with that pained look... Malaya could somewhat tell...

"She is crying." Malaya meekly said as her eyelids started to get heavier. "We have been together for so long for four years, and I don't even know what caused those tears."

"I'm the worst..." Malaya's voice trailed off as she completely succumbed to unconsciousness.

In the frigid air, there was deafening quiet. The quick sound of rain just contributed to the tense atmosphere.

"Is she dead, already?" Iris held Malaya's pulse. It was still beating but Iris knew too well that if she didn't stop the bleeding of Malaya, her life could be in real danger.

Iris released a deep breath before starting to drag Malaya with her. 'How heavy.' She frowned as she kept going.

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Extra Scene:

Four years ago...

"Milady! Please stop running away!" Rein's weary voice resounded.

"How can I not run on this beautiful scenery?" Malaya cheerfully said. "The wind is so refreshing, and the waves of the ocean are like music playing to my ear... Ah!"

Malaya didn't finish her words when she stumbled on something.

"Milady!" Rein ran to her with anxiousness. 

When Malaya looked to see what caused her to stumble, rather than something. It was someone.

"Rein, I found a mermaid," Malaya said.

"What mermaid are you talking about?" Rein said as he helped Malays to stand up, and check her condition. To his relief, Malaya didn't seem to get hurt with that fall.

"Look!" Malaya pointed. When Rein glanced towards the direction she was pointing, to his surprise, there was indeed someone there!

The lower half of her body was buried in the sand.

"Rein, she is still breathing! Quick let us help this mermaid get back to the sea!" 

Malaya said after she checked the pulse of the girl.

Without wasting time, Rein started digging the girl out. After a few minutes, they were able to retrieve the girl.

"She is not a mermaid." Malaya's face was laced with disappointment.

"Is that really the important thing right now? Rein said bewildered.

"Who are you?" They both turn to the girl when they hear a soft but weak voice. The girl stared at them with a frightened face.

"Shh." Malaya hushed. "We will not harm you. We are here to help. You can trust us, alright?" Malaya gently smiled as she extended her arms towards the girl.

The girl was still hesitant and wary but seeing Malaya's gentle smile and eyes that really looked sincerely worried for her...she just noticed that her hand was also reaching for her.

Malaya's smile widened. "Thank you for trusting us." She held the girl's hand firmer. "Rein helped me bring her to the estate so she could get treatment."

'Hair that is like the soothing calm ocean and eyes that are as bright and gentle as the clear blue skies, how beautiful.' The girl said as she was carried gently in the arms of the man that was with this unknown lady. 'She's like a water fairy.'

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